Free Not A Good Look by Nikki Carter Page B

since she lives over at Big D’s now, that’s not necessary.
    She struts up the hallway and leans against the lockers across from us as if she’s waiting for the paparazzi to come and the cameras to start flashing. She’s got the diva pose down pat, too. Utter hilarity. I wonder if she watched a bunch of Rihanna footage for her diva education.
    My ex-boo, Romell, is the main one heading up the Dreya fan club. I kind of find that hard to believe, since he’s never been checking for Dreya before, but I guess a hot track can change a lot of things. In my eyes, his Dreya-jocking takes his swagger levels into the negative numbers.
    Romell and a small crowd of people surround Dreya. Of course, Bethany and I want to hear what she’s gonna say, so we’ve got to join the crowd. I don’t like feeling like one of Dreya’s groupies, especially since Sam and I wrote all her songs.
    â€œSo, Dreya, you got a record deal?” Romell asks.
    â€œMy lawyers told me that I’m not allowed to talk about it,” she replies.
    Bethany covers her mouth and chuckles. “What lawyers?” she whispers to me.
    â€œGirl, I don’t know.”
    â€œAnd does she even have the record deal yet?”
    I shrug. “Last I heard, Big D was trying to make it happen. Maybe something’s changed since yesterday.”
    â€œDo you think she’s gonna tell anyone that you wrote that hook?”
    Now it’s my turn to laugh. “We’re talking about Dreya, Bethany. You and I both know she’s not giving me credit for anything.”
    Why are people turned around looking at me and Bethany like we’re being rude? It’s not like Dreya’s saying anything important. She’s not a celebrity yet! And even if she does reach celeb status, it’s not going to make her mindless ramblings any smarter.
    Do I sound like a hater right now? Well, it’s whatever. Call me a hater with a capital H then.
    â€œI can’t tell you about a record deal, but that single y’all heard drops the week of Thanksgiving. It’s called ‘What Ya Gonna Do.’ Y’all really need to cop that ringtone and MP3.”
    Is this chick marketing now? Wow. I’ve never seen Dreya work hard doing anything; she’s pretty much a bump effort kinda girl. It’s even funnier because she’s not going to make any money off the track, although it will definitely help her popularity if it goes to number one on the charts.
    â€œI heard on the radio that Truth was going on a promotional tour,” Romell says. “Are you going with him?”
    â€œYou know it!” Dreya says. “We’re going to ten cities, doing shows. It’s gonna be fiyah, for real.”
    She’s going on tour now? Talk about being out of the loop. Is this what Sam was talking about when he said Dreya’s life was about to change?
    I’m trying not to feel jealous, but I can’t help it. She’s so mean and spiteful. Why should she be the one to blow up? I could sure use some record-deal money myself, ’cause Spelman ain’t free.
    Speaking of Spelman, I need to get myself to class, because I’ve got a calculus test this morning.
    â€œI’ve got to go to class,” I say to Bethany. “I’ll see you later.”
    â€œOkay. You gonna be in the cafeteria at lunchtime?” she asks.
    I nod. “Yeah. Holla.”
    Â 
    That test was ridiculous. I’m glad I took some time to do my homework, ’cause I wouldn’t have passed it if I hadn’t. But at least it’s over, and the rest of my morning classes were cake.
    I scan the cafeteria for Bethany, but I guess she’s not here yet, because I can’t find her. But guess who I do see? Ms. Dreya—oops, Drama—and her man, Truth, sitting on a table with a small crowd surrounding them. I wonder how Truth got past the security guards. He’s our age, but he definitely